Professional Development for Reluctant Staff
If you look around the room at your next staff meeting, you probably can spot the Bricks. And the Rebels. And the Knowledge Royals. Those are just a few of the personality types that can sabotage professional development and school reform efforts. But you don’t have to give in to those groups that can contaminate their colleagues with negativity. Included: Tips for engaging reluctant staff members.

The Principal Poet
Education World’s resident poet, Mr. Ivan, presents a poem that is sure to bring grins to school leaders everywhere. This week’s poem is "Hall Lockers.”
My locker's stuck! I can't get in!
My books are locked in tight,
So I've been kicking and banging
On the door to make things right…

Crossing the Bridge Puts Freshmen on Solid Ground Incoming ninth graders get an early, beneficial start on their first year of high school.

Pawlas on PR Hold a special meeting for parents new to the school.

Take Five for… Helping teachers to develop classroom management skills.

Principals Advise Job Seekers Have a plan, a portfolio, and a good attitude. That's just some of the advice Education World's Principal Files principals have for soon-to-be college grads looking for their first teaching positions. Any educator who is involved in a job search will benefit from this advice from the people who are doing the hiring. Included: Questions to help any job candidate prepare.

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Pete Hall’s Always Strive To Be a Better You Education fluctuates more than a rattlesnake’s temperature. We cannot wait for two years, heads buried in the sand, then emerge and ask, "What did I miss?” Education moves much too fast for that. So what can we do to keep our heads in the game? How can we ensure that our learning is running parallel to the profession itself? Here are some ideas…

Evelyn-Cortez Ford’s Coaching Teachers To Be Leaders In professional learning communities, teachers are active participants in bringing about change. That collaborative culture has blurred the roles of teacher and principal. The empowered status of teachers requires teacher-leaders and principals to reframe their relationships.

Meet the other members of Education World's Columnist Team.

Instant Meeting #30 The "Have-a-Ball Brainstorm" activity lets everyone have a say.

Principal Ideas #11 Pies and water balloons boost attendance, Teacher Appreciation Year!, more...

Exceptional Event Graduation Day.

How I Handled… A parent request for student retention.

Turnaround Tales Expanded reading time at South Clearfield Elementary School has helped all students, but particularly those who still are learning English. Twenty percent of the students at South Clearfield come from homes where Spanish is spoken.

Grant of the Week The History Channel funds Save Our History Grants for non-profit history organizations (such as museums or libraries) to partner with schools or youth groups.

Morning Math Questions for Week 35.

Join the Conversation On our "School Administrators” message board.

Making Advisory Meaningful Building connections for students is key to the successful formula for a two-year advisory program at one Missouri school.